MS Excel can't insert new cells

If, on trying to insert a row or a column in Excel, we have ever had a really long error message, "Microsoft Excel can't insert new cells because it would push non-empty cells off the end of the worksheet. These non-empty cells might appear empty but have blank values, some formatting, or a formula. Delete enough rows or columns to make room for what you want to insert and then try again" it may be because of two tricksy little reasons. 

Firstly, we may unknowingly have a merged cell somewhere (Anonymous, 2019). 

Secondly, we may have a single, filled cell right at the end of the sheet that does not allow us to add one more row or column. 

To find out which, the process is simple, which I have covered before in a post here, detailed by Kader (2024): 

1.  Select the last active column in your spreadsheet Key Ctrl, Shift & the Right Arrow to highlight all the 'live' columns (or rows)
2. Key Ctrl & - (minus, and I used the number pad for this key) to delete cell contents 
3. Key Ctrl & S to save 
4. Close out. 

Reopen and try again to insert your cell or column. Hopefully that works for you, just as well as it worked for me :-)

Sam

References:

Anonymous. (2019, January 25). Excel can't insert new cells because it would push non-empty cells off the end of the spreadsheet. Microsoft Ignite. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/4991814/excel-cant-insert-new-cells-because-it-would-push

Anonymous. (2018, January 3). Can't insert new cells - what what?. Microsoft Ignite. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/4949199/cant-insert-new-cells-what-what?forum=msoffice-all&referrer=answers

Kader, E. (2024, February 12). [Solved!] CTRL+END Shortcut Key Goes Too Far in Excel (6 Fixes). Exceldemy. https://www.exceldemy.com/excel-ctrl-end-goes-too-far/